Mid-Century Modernism and the American Body

*Mid-Century Modernism and the American Body* explores how race and gender influenced the marketing of Modernist decor in postwar America. Kristina Wilson examines advice manuals, advertisements in Life and Ebony, and various design elements to reveal how Modernist furnishings were marketed differently to White and African American audiences. While White consumers saw Modernism as a means to maintain exclusivity and privilege, Ebony magazine portrayed it as a symbol of comfort and social confidence for African Americans. This book challenges conventional design histories by highlighting the ways in which Modernist decor both empowered and constrained different groups.